Public Safety

Second in a two-part series

Opened in 1992, the Crisis Center of Northern New Mexico is an Española-based facility with 18 beds, which vary in vacancy throughout the year, according to the center’s assistant Director Ramon Garcia.

“If we have no vacancies, we can usually find them a place and resources to help them,” Garcia said.

One interesting fact Garcia noted was that most women seeking shelter from abuse have little in terms of financial resources. The center’s services are free. The center relies on state and federal support as well as private donations.

“We see more of the low-income victims of domestic violence because they are the ones that need help finding shelter,” Garcia said. “Victims with a higher income will just go find someplace else, perhaps a hotel room. Higher income individuals will also seek private therapy for help in overcoming their issues.”

Garcia said the Crisis Center provides emergency shelter for up to 90 days. The introduction to the center is similar to how the perpetrators are introduced to the center, Garcia said.

There is an assessment of each victim to determine what level of care they need.

First of a series

The victims often suffer in silence.

It’s an insidious problem that can be found on virtually every rung of the socioeconomic ladder.

While some people may know a victim of domestic violence, more often people hear about cases when it makes the news.

Once a domestic violence case makes its way to the criminal justice system, the paths taken by the victim and the perpetrator diverge. For those convicted of domestic violence, there is a lot that begins to happen behind the scenes, which involves more than just a fine and probation.

The Los Alamos Magistrate Court usually refers those convicted of a domestic violence charge to the Crisis Center of Northern New Mexico, located in Española.

According to the center’s assistant director Ramon Garcia, the 52-week rehab program the center offers for domestic violence offenders begins with an interview with the offender.

“We first perform an initial assessment of their ability to control themselves,” Garcia said. From there, he said, they are assigned a group of people with similar backgrounds and situations before beginning treatment.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN ALBUQUERQUE HAS ISSUED A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW... WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT MST TONIGHT.

* SNOW ACCUMULATIONS... 1 TO 2 INCHES. UP TO 3 INCHES POSSIBLE IN THE ALBUQUERQUE FOOTHILLS AND ON THE WEST MESA.

* TIMING... ANOTHER ROUND OF SNOW IS EXPECTED AROUND RUSH HOUR ACROSS THE ALBUQUERQUE METRO AREA AND WILL CONTINUE INTO THE EVENING HOURS THEN DIMINISH BY MIDNIGHT. SNOW ACROSS QUAY AND HARDING COUNTIES WILL FOLLOW SIMILAR TIMING.

* WINDS... NO SIGNIFICANT WINDS ARE EXPECTED.

* SNOW LEVELS... TEMPERATURES WILL BE COLD ENOUGH FOR SNOW AT ALL LOCATIONS.

* LOCAL IMPACTS... SNOW PACKED OR ICY ROADS AS WELL AS REDUCED VISIBILITIES IN FALLING SNOW CAN BE EXPECTED. ROAD THAT MAY BE IMPACTED INCLUDE... BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO INTERSTATE 25... INTERSTATE 40... HIGHWAYS 550 AND 54 AND STATE HIGHWAYS 39... 469 AND 209.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW MEANS THAT PERIODS OF SNOW WILL PRIMARILY CAUSE TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES. BE PREPARED FOR SNOW COVERED ROADS AND LIMITED VISIBILITIES.

More Information

... SNOW EXPANDING ACROSS PORTIONS OF NORTH CENTRAL AND EAST CENTRAL NEW MEXICO...

SANTA FE (AP) — The flu has walloped New Mexico with an early one-two punch and health officials are urging people to get vaccinated against the illness.

Dr. Joan Baumbach, an epidemiologist in the New Mexico Department of Health, said Friday the flu has hit New Mexico earlier and harder than last year.

“This is an unusually early flu season,” she said.

Medical providers report they’re seeing 7 percent of their patients with flu-like illnesses, according to department. That’s higher than the national average and is up from 3 percent in New Mexico at this time last year. New Mexico peaked at 3.7 percent in late February and March last year.

There have been 88 New Mexicans hospitalized so far. That compares with two cases at this time last year, according to Baumbach.

There have been no confirmed deaths from flu so far.

The department doesn’t track every flu case statewide, but it collects information from counties representing more than half of the population.

Of the hospitalizations, 55 are in Bernalillo County — the state’s largest county, which is home to the city of Albuquerque.